Page 6 of A Chance for Us
“What I need is not to stay in bed. I am sick, and that won’t change. But this is what I need. To be able to give you away to the man you love, well, it’s what every parent hopes for. To know their child is . . .” He gasps and then swallows. “I want a happy memory for us, Maren. Don’t take that from me. Don’t let cancer be the reason I don’t get to see my only child marry the man she loves. I want to be there for you. To see you start your lives together.”
My chest aches. “I don’t want to make this worse for you.”
“The only thing that would make it worse is . . . if you . . .” He struggles for breath. “Cancel it.”
I lean back in my chair and look out my office window, feeling dejected and sad. “If you say so.”
“I do. Now, do you have everything ready?” He chokes out the words before gasping.
Even now, while he can barely speak, he’s worried about me. I’ve always known he is wonderful and I’m lucky, but it’s never been quite so obvious before. He wants this for himself, yes, but I also think it’s for me. So I can look back and know my father was at my wedding. I’ve already lost my mom, and . . . well, he would always talk about my wedding.
I will make this wedding perfect for everyone. He’ll get to be there, and I’ll get to give him a memory that will allow him to rest.
I force a smile onto my lips and give him whatever joy I can. “Almost. I did find my perfect dress.”
He laughs. “Most important . . . part.”
“Well, and the father of the bride, right?”
Dad’s eyes brighten. “You’re the important one.”
“I think you’re pretty high up there.”
The bright green eyes that mirror mine are pooling with tears as his lower lip trembles. “I’m so happy, Maren. I have prayed for this.”
My heart falls to my stomach. I don’t know how I’m going to watch him die. How do I make it through my wedding, knowing that we may not have the chance to make any more memories? I can’t. I can’t lose him.
“Dad . . .” I start, but he lifts his hand, coughing hard.
“I’m okay,” he says after a few seconds of what sounds like excruciating chest heaving. “Just a little setback.”
Those four words have been his constant saying. No matter what life threw at him, it wasn’t more than just a little setback. He would fight. He persevered and tried to look at the obstacles as just that—things to overcome.
Now, there’s nothing he can do but let his body fade away.
And pray to see the things he wants.
“Your setback sounds bad.”
He scoffs. “You don’t worry . . . about me.”
“I always worry about you.”
My father wipes away a tear. “You are giving me everything. Everything,” his voice cracks at the end. “I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Okay.”
My heart crumbles and so does my resolve. Tears break free and I cry at my desk because I’m about to lose the only man I really love.
Three
MAREN
Devney and I are getting ready to head to North Carolina. I have cried more than any human ever has, but I’m not going to cancel the wedding. Daddy sent me an email, which he does when speaking is too hard, reiterating how happy he was. So, I’m going to put on my brave face and give my dad what he wants.
A wedding.
“I am so, so sorry, Mare,” Devney says as she loads her last piece of luggage into the trunk.
